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Abstract: Double vital tear staining

PURPOSE:To determine the relative staining characteristics of the nasal and temporal conjunctiva as compared with other measures of dry eye and evaluate the qualitative clinical impression of the utility of the double vital staining with fluorescein and lissamine green.

METHODS:Ocular surface staining was performed with a mixture of 1% fluorescein and 1% lissamine green in 50 patients with dry eye (12 patients with Sjögren syndrome and 38 patients with non-Sjögren syndrome). Ocular surface disease index (OSDI), tear breakup time (BUT), and Schirmer test were evaluated. Digital photographs were taken after vital staining on the ocular surface, and the grade of staining in various areas was assessed. Correlation among the degrees of staining, OSDI, and ocular surface parameters was analyzed.

CONCLUSIONS:Double vital staining with 1% fluorescein and 1% lissamine green correlates with symptoms and some ocular surface parameters in patients with dry eye and helps to identify ocular surface changes easily. It may be a useful method for the diagnosis of dry eye and the assessment of the therapeutic effect in patients with dry eye syndrome.

Cornea. 2011 Jun 22. [Epub ahead of print]Yoon KC, Im SK, Kim HG, You IC.SourceFrom the *Department of Ophthalmology and Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Chonnam National University Medical School and Hospital, Gwangju, Korea; and †Department of Ophthalmology, Chonbuk National University Medical School and Hospital, Jeonju, Korea.